Whitlocks End to Shirley Railway Stations, Rail Trails

Start : Whitlocks End Railway Station (B90 1EA) Grid ref. SP 102 771

(S) Turn right out of the station car park, initially on the right-hand pavement, then at the bus stop, cross the road, and continue on the left-hand pavement.

(1) At the junction, turn left onto Tythe Barn Lane. Where the left-hand pavement ends, cross the road and continue on the right-hand pavement.

(2) In 700 yards, immediately before the telegraph wire over the road, cross the road to go down the path opposite on your left, through a small wooden gate to the right of a large metal gate, and ahead on the track for 200 yards to reach and cross the bridge over the canal.

Follow the same track for a further 400 yards, through the plantation of Christmas trees, to a graveled area where another track joins from the right.

(3) Walk ahead on the track, which becomes a tarmac drive. Pass The Jinney Ring on the left and The Cart House on your right. When the path starts on the right-hand side of the drive, join that rather than walking on the drive. In 200 yards, the drive and path bend left. Pass houses to reach the farm entrance at a road corner.

Go through the gate, turn left at a gap in the fence to cross the farm entrance, and walk ahead initially on the left-hand pavement. Cross the road where safe to do so and continue on the right-hand pavement.

(4) In 200 yards, cross a short link road to the height limit sign ahead, turn right then turn left on the pavement of the initially parallel road, which bends right then right again.

(5) Opposite the start of a small grassy area on the right, turn left through metal barriers and ahead on the footpath which emerges at the end of a cul-de-sac with garages on the left. Follow the cul-de-sac to a junction at the top.

Turn right to a pedestrian crossing, cross the road, on the opposite side turn left then immediately turn right into Shirley Railway Station car park. (S)

Start : Whitlocks End Railway Station (B90 1EA) Grid ref. SP 102 771

Transport : Whitlocks End is on the North Warwickshire Line Bearley running between Birmingham & Stratford-upon-Avon. Three trains run hourly to Birmingham Moor Street and Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway Snow Hill and one train an hour runs southbound to Stratford-upon-Avon; the remaining two southbound trains terminate at Whitlocks End. Sundays see an hourly service to Worcester Foregate Street.
There are limited facilities available at this station.

Refreshments : No visit to this area is complete without dropping in to shop, explore, eat and drink at the Akamba Heritage Centre. A beautiful African themed heritage and garden centre just a seven minute walk from Whitlock’s End station. If needing a drink or bite to eat whilst passing by the village of Dickens Heath, you could take a short diversion to Moretons Kitchen Bar & Deli or the Coffee Cloud.
Alternatively keep your powder dry until you reach Shirley where you’ll find a diverse mix of cuisines, bars and cafés. You can even eat like a gaucho at the Fiesta del Asado!

Moreton’s Kitchen : A café, bar and restaurant that’s all chunky sofas, drift wood art and quirky modern style. Stop by anytime for their pizzas and sandwiches, or head there early for their famous brunch (we recommend the Shakshuka!).
Coffee Cloud : A family run, dog friendly, independent cafe in the heart of Dickens Heath, serving award winning coffee beans and specialised tea. You can order online to pick-up when you arrive too!
Frankie’s Café : Reached Shirley with the tank empty? Fear not, just a 3 minute walk brings you to Frankie’s café. Grab a breakfast baguette or any of their top notch sandwiches, bagels and more to eat in or take away.
Fiesta del Asado : An Argentine bar and restaurant serving bar snacks and small plates, but famed for their steaks, using premium, naturally reared, ethically farmed meat. Your chance to eat like the gauchos!

Discover the Heart of England by rail at Heart Community Rail Trail here.

Shirley : Historically Shirley was very rural and it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the opening of the railway, that it started to grow rapidly as people moved out of Birmingham.
Did you know ?

• Shirley is the one of the largest (and greenest) areas within the Solihull Borough, and also named the second best place in the UK to live!
• Why is Shirley called Shirley? Since the 19th century Shirley has developed from predominantly a farming area to a prominent residential suburb of Solihull. According to Woodall and Varley the name Shirley was first recorded circa 1240 as “Syrley”... which meant ‘bright clearing’.

Further Information Visit https://visitsolihull.co.uk for more information on where to visit and what to see in and around Shirley.

Akamba Heritage Centre : A beautiful African themed heritage and garden centre like no other in the UK, stocking exotic trees, palms, plants and shrubs. Akamba also has a bar, restaurant, cafe, reptile house and bird walk!

Shirley Park : A Green Flag Park in the centre of Shirley’s busy shopping area, with formal walkways, ornamental gardens and a great programme of summer events. The perfect spot for a post walk relax!